Tramping and walking in August

1 August - Thursday tramp to Pukeatua (Tararua Range)

3-5 August - weekend with friends at Palliser Bay

The road to the lighthouse was washed out - we had to walk about 2km to the lighthouse

Setting off to walk to the Putangirua Pinnacles

View of the Putangirua Pinnacles from the lookout

7 August - Wednesday tramp to Orange hut (inland Kapiti)

8 August - Thursday tramp to Mt Thompson (North Manakau Road).  Morning tea at a logging clearing in the mist.

Saturday 10 August Kaiparoro trig (Tararua Range)

Celebrating Jim's birthday in the bush

Back in Picton - Nina 5 weeks old

27-28 July - back in Picton, Nina is now 5 weeks old.  Both girls were very obliging for regular photo shoots.

Kaikoura

26-27 July - two nights in Kaikoura.  We stayed at "The Lazy Shag" backpackers which was very good.

Owen went on an Albatross watch boat trip, while I hired a mountain bike and explored some trails.

In the afternoon we walked the Kaikoura peninsula track - it took us about 3 hours to do the whole circuit.  The scenery was stunning. Quite a few geocaches along the way too.

Lake Tekapo

 23-24 July Lake Tekapo - We took a morning drive up Mt John and enjoyed great views.

Lake Alexandrina

Lake Tekapo

On to see Fraser in Wanaka

20 July After spending the night at Bluff we set off to Wanaka

Brilliant sunrise at Bluff - the Tiwai smelter

Driving the Crown Range Road to Wanaka

Wanaka - out for an afternoon walk with Fraser, about to walk up Mt Iron.  There was a geocache here.

View from Mt Iron looking towards the Pisa Range where we were going to do some cross country skiing the next day

21 July - Snow farm trails

The Snow Farm - start of the cross country ski orienteering event

 Smiles at the finish - Owen and I weren't always this upright!

22 July -  Owen and I did a morning MTB bike ride along the Millennium trail beside Lake Wanaka while Fraser was at work.

View from Mt Ironside looking towards Wanaka

Stewart Island - Day 6 Our last day

 19 July - We cruised across Paterson Inlet at first light to Golden Bay.

Our seven crew - hard working and very good company.

We were dropped off in Golden Bay and were given time to walk across the low peninsula to Oban township and have a look around.

View from Observation Hill

Oban

The Milford Wanderer sailed around to Oban and we returned on board for our final cruise across Foveaux Strait to Bluff.  Fortunately it was very calm and sunny.  Here are all the passengers.  Who are wearing the brightest jackets?

Clouds - Bluff

Fishing floats - Bluff Harbour

End of our wonderful Discovery Cruise with Real Journeys on the Milford Wanderer

Stewart Island - eating and partying

Before we set off on our trip to Stewart Island we were warned that meals would be gourmet, sumptuous and generous.  This was very true!

Typical lunch

D

Final dinner - Bacon wrapped chicken on green beans with polenta and vegetables

Sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce and vanilla cream

Each evening we would have a talk and slide show about the history and wildlife of Stewart Island and some of the picks of photographs taken by passengers during the day.  For the last two evenings we had some fun, a quiz night and then on the final night a concert.  Items were expected from us passengers.  The highlight was a production by a group of West Coasters who knew to come with props for their item.  Much laughter!